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TL;DR:

  • Marionette wrinkles (sadness wrinkles) form below the corners of the mouth, pulling them downward, giving a saddened and aged appearance.
  • Caused by factors like repeated sad/angry expressions, aging, weight fluctuations, and genetics; common in round faces with full cheeks.
  • Aging reduces collagen production and fat volume, leading to sagging skin and wrinkle formation.
  • Hyaluronic acid injections effectively treat marionette wrinkles, hydrating skin, restoring volume, and providing a natural look. The procedure is painless, lasts ~40 minutes, and shows immediate results.
  • Aptos threads are another option, lifting facial contours, smoothing wrinkles, and delaying aging via internal support structures.
  • Both treatments involve local anesthesia and are minimally invasive solutions for rejuvenating the face.

Marionette wrinkles—those deep lines framing your mouth and chin—can make your face look sad and aged, even when you’re feeling fine. But how exactly do they form, and most importantly, how can you get rid of them? From aging skin and facial expressions to weight changes, there are many factors at play. Let me break it all down for you, including effective solutions to restore a smoother, youthful look.

The formation of wrinkles is associated with skin aging, and this process is the natural course of things. It has been known for a long time that difficult and unpleasant experiences take their toll on the appearance, causing changes in facial expressions that lead to the formation of marionette wrinkles. What is this type of imperfection?

How to recognize marionette wrinkles?

Marionette wrinkles are so-called sadness wrinkles that form in the lower parts of the face – at the junction of the chin and cheeks. Marionette wrinkles form below the corners of the mouth and pull it downward. They often even frame the mouth and chin area, which severely ages the appearance of the face. Unlike wrinkles caused by smiling, marionette wrinkles do not add beauty, and because of them, the face at rest can look saddened, gloomy and even unpleasant and threatening.

The process of the formation of sadness wrinkles

Marionette wrinkles are most often in the form of mimic wrinkles and are caused by frequent sad facial expressions and grimaces associated with depression and anger. It is for this reason that they are often associated with people who have experienced serious difficulties in life. However, Marionette lines can also occur in cheerful people, as their formation is influenced by a great many factors – not just facial expressions. As we age, the fatty tissue that lies beneath the skin naturally begins to lose its volume, which provides support for the skin. When its volume is reduced, the skin is more prone to sagging and flabbiness, which has a direct impact on the sinking of the cheeks and the formation of folds between them and the chin. The skin is also subject to volume loss through large fluctuations in weight. Sudden weight gain followed by drastic weight loss will result in the skin not having enough time to adapt to such a situation. While gaining weight, it becomes stretched, and while losing weight, it loses support tissue and becomes increasingly flabby and saggy. Sadness wrinkles are often genetically determined, and in such cases it is necessary to focus on areas particularly prone to their occurrence in order to effectively counteract the appearance of such changes. Their formation is favored by a certain facial structure – a round type with full cheeks. Marionette wrinkles occur to a much lesser extent in people with well-defined cheekbones, a high-set zygomatic bone and a triangular-shaped face. Another factor responsible for the occurrence of sadness wrinkles is the aging process. Around the age of 30, the natural ability to produce collagen in the deep layers of the skin, which is responsible for its elasticity and stretchability, decreases.

How to eliminate marionette lines?

In order to effectively get rid of the defect caused by marionette wrinkles, it is recommended to inject hyaluronic acid in the form of a safe, biocompatible and natural filler. It provides the skin with proper hydration and the muscles with tension. It also has the effect of smoothing the complexion and improving the visual appearance of the face. Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the skin that maintains its firmness and hydration, which diminish with age. The gel, injected under the skin, fills in wrinkles and shapes the volume of the skin, so the result is very natural.

Filling wrinkles with hyaluronic acid at the OT.CO Clinic in Warsaw

Hyaluronic acid is recommended to be injected at the same time under the wrinkles of the marionette itself in order to fill as well as plump it up. This therapy not only covers up imperfections, but also realistically treats the problem by both treating the causes of the furrows and eliminating their effects. Hyaluronic acid is injected to add volume and raise the level of the cheeks or directly the area of the furrows, restoring the natural facial features and supporting ligaments. marionette wrinkle leveling The procedure is performed under local anesthesia using a fine needle and is painless. It lasts no more than 40 minutes. The improvement from hyaluronic acid is visible almost immediately after the procedure is completed. Aptos Aptos threads are also used for the procedure to eliminate marionette wrinkles. They influence a multi-stage renewal process and create a skeleton to support soft tissues. This causes the effect of lifting contours, smoothing wrinkles and delaying skin aging. The threads are in the form of “springs”, which are wound on a needle. Prior to the procedure, local anesthesia is performed, and then the lifting threads are inserted into the body through punctures, using a specialized guide needle tailored to the treatment area. Once inserted under the skin, the threads allow the tissues to move in tandem with facial expressions, while pulling the face upward.

Conclusion

Marionette wrinkles can deeply affect your appearance and confidence, but they’re not unbeatable. These folds result from aging, facial expressions, and skin volume loss, but effective solutions like hyaluronic acid fillers and Aptos threads can reverse their effects. Treatments target both the cause and the visible signs, restoring a youthful, natural look in minutes. If marionette wrinkles bother you, seek professional help—it’s simpler than you think to reclaim smoother, firmer skin and an uplifted expression.